Book Reviews:

Published by Penguin Books' Pelham section, UK

THE first thing that is stressed in this hugely relevant book on understanding the behaviour of dogs is a warning that 89 percent of humans in European, American and Japanese homes (and I would include Australasian homes in that too!) look upon their dog as a person ... a different, smaller, fur-covered person, but nevertheless 'good friend' rather than an animal. And it is this very attitude that has caused many problems because we give the dog human status and expect it to live up to and understand our motivation ... but all without we humans taking the trouble to learn about the dog's motivation.

Though first released in 1990 this book is becoming more and more relevant as time goes on. Perhaps we should rethink some of the recent so-called 'dog attacks' after reading this book and then ask ourselves which of the recent events really qualifies as a 'dog attack' and which is nothing more than 'human stupidity'. I am sure I know a little Christchurch Jack Russell that was destroyed in knee-jerk reaction to the latter!

At the time of writing this book Bruce Fogle was a practising veterinarian who lectured internationally at veterinary colleges on animal behaviour. He had already written several books on behaviour problems in pets.

There is so much to learn in this volume but perhaps the most important and most significant is that dogs need mental stimulation ALL the time. From the puppy stage through their adult years they are learning and interacting with their pack - whether human or canine. They MUST socialise and later that socialisation must be maintained.

Working on that ideal an owner cannot leave a dog on a chain all day and expect it to be rational if it is released for a short time when the owners arrive home. Equally because of the nature of the dog it can not be allowed to roam at will with no training or pack leader to answer to. Such a dog is likely to attack if it thinks its territory is being invaded ... and because it has no defined territory it will take on its own definition of a boundary.

It would be impossible to read this book and remain unresponsive to the huge human input there has been in the misinterpretation of man's relationship with the canine species. By all means accept your dog as an equal partner in your life - but learn enough to realise the differences in this equality. And also learn enough to realise that not all humans will participate in this canine interaction - some know nothing about dogs, do not want to know and have no intention of ever owning one - and the onus is on dog owners to protect such people from their dogs, while also protecting their dogs from such people.

A heavy task, but one that can be made lighter if you take on board the information given in this textbook on canine behaviour. - EP

Advanced Labrador breeding

H F & G Witherby Ltd, London

THIS book was published in 1988, but is no less relevant now. It remains a book of information for breeders and the only difference I would acknowledge is that concepts and methods used then as new and advanced are today only simple, basic Labrador breeding!

The author, a well-known international judge of the eighties and a long-established breeder of Labradors under the Mansergh kennel name, bred both show champions and field trial winners. In this book she analyses the qualities that make good breeders, the types of problems they may encounter on their way to the top of their field, and the reasons some stay at the top while others drift into oblivion.

Other topics covered include dual-purpose breeding, breeding for colour and breeding out faults likely to incur penalty in the showring.

Interestingly there is a photograph included of a Labrador called Chasend Shining Copper - owned by a Mrs Turner who was thought to be the only woman gamekeeper in Britain at that time - a beautiful colour that we do not see today, but that is nevertheless classed as yellow!

This is a book that is worth acquiring as it describes the many pitfalls new breeders may encounter and how to get over them; what not to do next time and what to watch for as the new breeder advances. In short, the message it contains is good, common sense for all breeders of Labradors but most of it can be applied just as easily to other breeds. - EP

Reminder for Labrador retriever owners

WE are sending you a reminder if you want to get articles, photos or ads in the new "Labrador Retriever Champions, 1996-2002" book, we will need them no later than May 15th. The book must be in print by June 2003.

Remember that we are devoting a free section in the book to anyone who would like to send us photos of their champions and titleholders (1996 to present) without having to pay for an ad page. These photos are smaller (about two-and-a-half inches square) but you can include the dog's name, sire and dam, breeder and owner.

If you need the information again, please email, fax or call Jan at Camino E.E. & Book Co, P.O. Box 6400, Incline Village, NV 89450. (Ph/Fax): (775) 831-5553, website: www.camino-books.com, email: info@camino-books.com.